Reviews (page 2 of 8)
assssssssssss
Some genuinely good moments in this album. Overall I wasn't in the mood completely for it. But I have earmarked it for a return as it might suit better another time. 3/5
684/1001 2026.08.20 🌕🌕🌑🌑🌑
Kind of interesting in an uninteresting sort of way. Mixes genres pleasantly and it’s easy enough to listen to, but ask me about it again next week and I don’t think I’d be able to recall it to any great extent.
Hello! I actually know 'Life's What You Make It.' Prior to hearing that track, I didn't think I had a clue who Talk Talk were. The end of 'April 5th' is just paired-back guitar and some maracas, which is pretty cool. The album is a pleasant divergence from what was coming out around that time. It has that signature of popular music that manages to get beyond the mundane by adding atmosphere and true instrumental craft. Overall, it’s a very pleasant album that sits just on the right side of average for me. Ended up listening to this one loads.
I expected I wouldn't enjoy this because of the genre, but this seemed to have a bit more depth than your regular eighties pop. It had a morose and brooding feel to it that was quite alluring. At points reminded me of Björk and others of some less acoustic Jon Martyn tracks. I liked the use of real instruments to play parts more commonly synthesised at this time. One of my irrational dislikes is including children singing in pop records but luckily only the first track was guilty of this. By the end of the album I was getting a bit tired of it but a three feels stingy for such an interesting record so I'll stick my neck out on it.
Okay. Interesting turn away from Synth, but with the same general Yazoo/Roxy sound. Enjoyable. 3.
The singing voice of every dude in an 80s UK band sounds the same...the guy from Antony and the Johnsons has a very similar voice now too...everything's new that was once old. I'm not sure what the Blade Runneresque instrument on Happiness is Easy is, but it is awful. Speaking of Antony and the Johnsons, I bet this is their favorite album. This is just another 80s pop band from the UK...why are there so many of these albums on the list? I'm counting the minutes until this is over, Chameleon Day is a terrible song.
Sophisticated synth-pop with a lot of elaborate arrangements. It is really well thought out and well produced, however I am more interested in the Spirit of Eden (1988) and Laughing Stock (1991) albums from their discography, when they took their music way further.
i can’t survive the vocals
A pleasant enough listen. Probably a killer track short of being a 5 star for me.
Nice sounding record, and I really liked it at first. But it does start to get repetitive. Made it all the way through and enjoyed. But it really faded to the background. Singing kind of all sounds like the same melody throughout.
Cool vibe about it
Powerful rhythms, lush textures, I find a little bit extra each time
Epic sound production. Sparse, spacious, crystal-clear. Cool for that alone. Life's What You Make It = banger. All told, a real rewarding listen.
A dreamy chamber pop disco slog. The first couple songs had me intrigued, but that wanted pretty quickly. I wish there had been better instrumentation to accompany the vocals, perhaps some upbeat Tears for Fears-esque beats and toms. 4/10
Solid 80s new wave album with a slight amount of weirdness.
This flavor of 80s music has a special place in my heart.
Not really a fan of this album. Very boring and uninteresting. Sounds like a generic version of a lot of other 80s pop or soft rock bands
Real crap - rises at rare instances to less annoying.
Jeg har hørt masse på Laughing Stock. Det er et særegent mesterverk uten sidestykke. At det ikke er med på denne lista, er en varsellampe som blinker rødt vedrørende redaktørenes kompetanse. Mine kilder fortalte meg at det var først på forgjengeren til Laughin Stock, Spirit of Eden, at Talk Talk gikk fra å være enda et synthpop/new wave band med et navn som var ett ord repetert, til å være pionerer av en helt ny rock. Nå som jeg omsider hører The Colour or Spring, innser jeg at jeg har blitt litt lurt. Transformasjonen er allerede godt igang. De har kanskje foten plantet i popen enda -- perkusjonen går fortsatt hardt -- men Mark Hollis synger med en unik og lengtende stemme som er altfor god for poppen og gruppa produserer lydbilder og texturer som er langt bedre enn hva 80-tallet fortjente. Spesielt tydelig er det på det transcendentale åpningssporet som er helt på høyde med Laughing Stock. The Colour of Spring er en slags bro. Og selv om de skulle utrede enda større bragder, skal man ikke sove på denne slik jeg har gjort.
Talk Talk låter helt annerledes enn hva jeg regnet med. Tenkte kanskje det kom til å være svulstig 80s jazz, men istedet er det sophistipop, og ufattelig bra også. Skjønner hvorfor alle jeg vet om som er fan av dem er FAN
Talk Talk is a masterclass band, and this album does not disappoint. Excellent album.
A common 80's sound. I liked it. Dated but good.
I liked it but a lil’ samey at times.
It’s ok. Arrangement is good. Production not bad. But melody is on the weak side unfortunately. Could have been a beautiful butterfly but it lands in the middle of a caterpillar and a moth…
a fine album... but i dont think anything really worth coming back to. not sure what we were supposed to be listening for here, other than some really beautiful melodies.
Could really do without the children’s chorus somehow on multiple tracks of this album. Pretty generic 80s music. I think this group is solid, I just think it’s unfortunate they suffer from a cover of their most popular song being done by a different artist.
I started out liking this album, but I got bored of it quickly. It won't be something that I remember or come back to.
This album has a serious lack of remarkableness. The songs are unremarkable, the vocals are unremarkable, though slightly annoying for the length of the album. The songs are too long, which they are not interesting enough to be. I like the arrangements on tracks 6 and 8, bit the rest is lacking.
The only song I was familiar with before today by the band Talk Talk was the song Talk Talk from the album Talk Talk. So imagine my surprise when I heard an album that could be a Skinamax movie soundtrack, or the backing instrumentation for the USA show Silk Stalkings
Really weird interesting since 80s album, definitely checks the boxes, president. I’ve never heard this before. It is a little bit different than the radio hits, but it has enough charm to it. Four stars.
Talk Talk is so good. "I Don't Believe In You", "Life's What You Make It" and "Time It's Time" are gorgeous
Beautiful listen again. Not as good as Spirit of Eden on first listen.
Way too slow for me. ★★
It’s always hard to come up with reasons why I dislike fundamentally decent music I don’t this album really does a whole lot wrong; I think the instrumentations pretty solid and there’s some good bass work in there. Variety’s actually ok in this one too, there’s some more ambient stuff in there and some more focused beat heavy stuff as well. Living in Another World is probably my favorite song on this one But for some reason, I just don’t care for this one much. Vocals are solid enough but I don’t think the singer guy has a ton of range. I think the songs on this album are a bit too long and don’t really build up in a satisfying way so it just kinda feels like you only need to listen to half. Long story short I just don’t think I resonated with anything the band was trying to do musically I relistened to part of this one and it’s really not as boring as when I first listened to it, but I’m still not crazy about it. Definitely in that low 3/high 2 range but I don’t think it does anything to actively offend me so I’ll bump it up
Actually kinda neat
I'm not familiar with the earlier albums by the band, but this sounds nothing like their next ones. This is basically one of the most 80s thing I've ever heard. It would be unfair to call it generic or derivative, as there are some genuinely creative arrangements, but I prefer my art pop with a sharper edge, while The Colour of Spring plays it rather safe. I'm sure there are many people who will find a lot of nice touches in these songs, though. For me, however, Talk Talk starts with Spirit of Eden.
Yeah, great. Interesting, inventive, some strong tunes. A bit surprised it's this rather than Spirit of Eden on the list, but I suppose this has the more definitive single on it.
didn’t do much for me
3.4. It was fine. Fun but didn’t do a whole lot for me
Very boring album and I found the singer's voice to be whiney. Inoffensive enough that I won't give it a 1. Favorite Track - Living In Another World Least Favorite Track - April 5th ⭐️⭐️
Fun album
Even without the synths, this album sounds very much like the 1980s. Not a stinker, but nothing to get excited about either.
Pretty good. One really stand out song, some other decent ones. Good background music. Very 80s.
Great album. Every songs is great. I love the sound - it has that ambient 80s/new wave quality, but doesn’t have an over reliance on synths. Hadn’t heard of the band or any of these songs before, but this is a 5 for me.
Cool music but in a "that's nice" kind of way
I kind of liked the vibe but the entire album sounded the exact same
Such an L that they include this album but neither of the next two by Talk Talk where they really go off the deep end and make something unique and incredible. I hate it here
Solid if unmemorable
J'avais déjà écouté distraitement Spirit of Eden, sans trop connaître le band. J'adore l'ambiance. J'adore les titres de chansons un peu 'in your face', comme I don't believe in you et Happiness is easy. Ça a quelque chose de Tears for Fears en un peu plus épuré. Je vais y revenir très certainement!
There's something special about Talk Talk, and something magical about this album. In the earlier 80s, when they were embracing synth pop with songs like Talk Talk and Today, their singles weren't massive hits, but were nevertheless memorable, not only as catchy pop, but because they sounded sincere and interesting. (There's nothing like a hint of desperation when it comes to a vocal.) Other bands from that era then moved into the shinier production brashness of 1984 onwards; Talk Talk did something more subtle and less commercial. This album embraces jazz, but is pretty hard to pigeonhole. It's... musical. I think it's beautifully crafted, and endlessly interesting. There are some cracking basslines, too. Truthfully, I often value image, swagger and energy above sincerity, but here, there's a pleasingly intense, quiet blend of interesting choices that just engrosses me. I shamefully let this pass me by in 1986 (obviously I knew, and loved, the "big hit"), but I'm so happy that it made it to my Spotify library a few years ago, thanks to algorithms (they're not all bad, perhaps) and I listen to it regularly.
80’s Brit pop
Very 80’s pop
Before doing this album challenge I hadn't appreciated how important tempo was to me. It's not I only like music that is fast paced, but I have noticed a trend of listening to some things and enjoying them and realising it's fast paced, while the converse is true. I wasn't clicking with this album but it's quite slow. It's about average length, general 80s pop-rock-synth kind of sound. That's fine but it just didn't grab me.
First of all, the album cover is beautiful. The colour palette is admittedly more autumnal, but the artwork is stunning. It’s the type of cover that makes you want to like an album more than you do. I was disappointed by this one. I was under the impression I would love Talk Talk but I didn’t get much out of this. I don’t really gel with the singer’s voice, or maybe it is how it’s overlaid with the music, and the songs themselves don’t appeal to me too much. There are some good moments but the songs drag and feel a bit dull to me. I’ve heard many positive reviews about this album but it just hasn’t connected with me the way I thought it would.
Decent
Es un álbum que a mí parecer es bueno. Tiene música relajante y facil de digerir. El único problema que veo en el es que se puede sentir repetitivo.
Album seemed well put together but for some reason I just could not get into the vocals. His voice seemed as if he was trying way too hard to produce something that was not reachable. I can definitely see why others love it, but I was not one of them and felt it was average at best.
No. 2
It was okayish
Kind of flabby and bloated. Had good ideas but just beat them into the dust. The mumbly singing didn't help. Really loved the flutes in Time It's Time though.
Life’s what you make It is a pretty good tune. Made for pretty good background music. Strong three out of five.
Pretty great new wave album, will come back to this one
Meh
Much more of a banger than I remembered. We need more music for adults
Listenable although I found it rather boring.
It's fine. It's like a sad-ass Peter Gabriel. I was kinda whatever listening to it. It's not bad but I'm not horny over it or anything.
It was very 80s even then
I always try to like this band since their song plays at the end of empire records but I always wind up not liking them for some reason
I have this as the third best of Talk Talk’s incredible closing trilogy, but it’s still an incredible achievement. Spirit of Eden is an easy 5, but this is nearly as lovely. Beautiful use of open spaces and atmosphere, and artistic restraint. Hollis and TT turned their backs on pop success after “It’s My Life” and turned into something so much more special.
Not my vibe
I really dislike this smooth listening stuff from the 80s. Nails on a chalkboard for me.
Very calm 80s pop/rock with vocals drenched in reverb. There were some egregiously slow fade outs and some of the quieter ambient songs were barely audible over a car stereo. But overall not too bad, although I'm not sure I'll return to it.
It just doesn’t do anything for me at all.
Mid
Not sure what this is at all. Unfamiliar with this. What is it about so many of these 80s era English bands where the vocals all sound the same. Sounds kinda synth rock pop with some 80s productions. Sound wise and instrumentally there’s a lot going on. I Don’t Believe In You is a song I’m liking a lot on first listen. Interesting. Issue is not much else is doing it for me. At times reminds me of some Peter Gabriel. This is a 2. It’s not terrible and at times it’s certainly interesting. But it just does nothing for me. Wish there was something more here. Not my favorite sound so hard to really wow me. And so much of this drags on a lot with overlong repetitive songs.
So funny that everything written about this album is like "wow they completely abandoned the modern sound and went back to basically make a jazz album" and then every instrument is the most 80s version of that instrument that has ever been recorded. They didn't use synthesized instruments but they synth-isized the instruments. Also I hate his voice. They seem cool though? I like Life's What You Make It.
Talk Talk – The Colour Of Spring (1986) Judging the album strictly off the first listen, I simply didn't get it. I could definitely hear that "revolutionary sound" people talk about because the style sounded entirely new to me, but I wasn't quite impressed with the overall sound design of the project. There wasn't quite much to say about this LP as a whole during this initial session. While the bulk of the record didn't land for me, one song did absolutely stand out: "Living in Another World." Initially, I was thinking that the album was mid, but I will deem whether that's officially the case after giving it multiple listens in the future.
If this album was played at the Unabomber trial, he would've been found not guilty. 1/5
Enjoyed and will never listen again
Great listen, Life's What You Make It is a top tier tune (3.5)
I like this
I didn't know what to expect, but I actually liked this! It was sort of emo, sort of pop, sort of rock, sort of blues... but not any single one of those things on its own.
like overall vibe good but individually not as much
The album had a very unique sound. I liked it a lot.
This is one of those things where it’s described as having “Jazz and Art-Pop” influences, which I get, but ultimately, it just sounds like Duran Duran. Maybe not quite. But do you know what I mean? It sounds like THE EIGHTIES in a soft pop rock way. Which is fine. I don’t really like the singers voice but I’d listen to their hits in a Donnie Darko / eighties-themed-party way. Not in a “far out exciting jazz” way. It’s alright.
Very 80’s in that over produced way… good though.
After listening to it, I have to revise my description of it from "pop" to "art-pop." The record isn't bad at all; it sounds catchy yet varied. 3 stars
Ok album.
I went into this expecting something more like Spirit Of Eden, as the first couple tracks of it (which I found amazing) were the only music by Talk Talk I'd listened to before. Although I can hear in The Colour Of Spring the band that made those later tracks, I was surprised to listen to a more conventional 80's new wave album. The instrumentation and production was outstanding. Some of these tracks would still be top tier as instrumentals. Mark Hollis' vocals are fantastic too, of course, but unlike many other new wave albums, this is one of those that you can't listen in the car, where so many frequencies and subtleties would be muffled. 268 albums in, this might be one of my favourites in the list so far. 5/5
A few of the songs remind me of Jim James solo work. It's not really my cup of tea. Not horrible.
I thought I was going to like this one. I know "Life's What You Make It" and "It's My Life" (not on this album but it's the only other Talk Talk song I know) and will happily sing along if they come on in the car. But listening to the whole album has forced me to ask myself: do I actually like it? And the answer is "no," I just have nostalgia for being 12. The only reason I can see for telling someone they need to listen to this is to remind them of how fucking dour and depressing the mid-80s actually were.
What an opener. Some soft organ music, lush percussion. The vibe continues to evolve on the next tracks. A little experimental, some great soundscapes. Not over-wrought, like some of these kinds of projects can be. I am digging this. I have never listened to any Talk Talk, except on playlists and stuff like that. I think I'll be indulging in some of their other albums.
Great songs, such a vibe
4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/talk-talk/the-colour-of-spring/ A bit of a transition album between the more poppy side of the band and the post-rock shift from the last two albums. In that, I like it a bit less than what came later, but it's still great. The few more poppy songs (e.g. Life's What You Make It) are lovely too.
Positief verrast! Geluisterd op vinyl van m’n vader.
The Colour of Spring ist der Moment, in dem Talk Talk ihre Synth‑Pop‑Wurzeln hinter sich lassen und etwas Organisch‑Leuchtendes schaffen. Die Songs wirken wie atmende Landschaften: warm, lebendig, voller feiner Details. „Life’s What You Make It“ trägt das Album nach außen, doch die wahre Stärke liegt im Zusammenspiel aus spiritueller Ruhe und musikalischer Präzision.
The turning point in Talk Talk's career before their ultimate ascension into the world of post-rock history. A lovely record, "Life's What You Make It" is still one of my favorite songs they've ever made (the music video is fun too).
Meticulously constructed, full of genuine emotion, and never self-indulgent
Absolutely exceptional. A triumph of craft, care, detail, a million tiny choices adding together to beautiful, impactful music.
9.5/10 Perfectly combines the energetic popsongs of their earlier albums with the experimentation and detailed layered soundscape of their later work. The simple but exciting grooves, the frequent use of organs and Hollis using his voice as an instrument all contribute to a very big sound that really appeals to me and creates so much atmosphere. The childrens choir on Happiness is Easy is probably the weakest bit of the album. I Don't Believe in You is a beautiful track with a lot of emotion from Hollis, but the album really picks up with Life's What You Make It, which turns a few piano notes into a big statement. April 5th and Chameleon Day are a bit slow but also very pretty and fragile sounding, but the real highlights of the album are the very energetic Living in Another World and the long, but very urgent closing track.. Highlights: Living in Another World Time It's Time Life's What You Make It Give It Up I Don't Believe in You April 5th
Never heard of this album, liked it, 4 stars
New wave but boring
Ágætis lög, en allt of löng. Hefði verið ánægjulegra ef þau væru í mesta lagi fjórar mínútur. Næs sánd, samt.
My favorite part about this was the moths on the cover
So 80's. Didn't do anything for me
This was an interesting vibe! I thought the first few songs didn’t hook me as much as the Give It Up toward the end. The singer had a very interesting voice, Michael McDonald esk. Liked a lot of the instrumentation too they chose too. Very unique. Don’t know why I didn’t LOVE it, think that there’s a lot of space in the music where I felt that not much was going on, so maybe slightly lackluster of an album for me. Very happy to have been exposed to this one regardless!
#43 A solid 80s album, pretty chill and mellow sound. I like that it isn't too heavy on the synths. Not the most memorable listen, but a good vibe.
British 80’s Sound Nothing grabbed me
Ok, did not expect to enjoy this album, but here we are. When I first got it, I thought it was gonna be just another cheesy 80s synth pop album a la Dare by The Human League, but when I got started listening to it, it had a lot more depth than I expected. The instrumentation was a lot more organic than I thought it would be, and it really shows on songs like Happiness is Easy and April 5th, which is my standout track. A lot of the tracks include very lush acoustic guitar and piano, which is not something I would think to have a place on an 80s pop record, but it works. The vocals are also very well executed, almost feeling like a combination of Tears for Fears and A-ha, which works well on songs like I Don’t Believe In You and Chameleon Day, another standout on the album. Overall, this album definitely defied my expectations, and while I don’t know how much I’d come back to it, I’d definitely say that it is a good listen for lovers of the 80s.
Absolute slog to get through. One long boring song.
Well produced, echo-y wallpaper music that would be best suited as the soundtrack for a PG-13 kids adventure film that's worse than Beetlejuice but better than Little Monsters.
Yellow.
This feels like it goes nowhere. The sound is fine - 80's movie montage. I don't need to spend time on it again.
Boring...
Dated. 3/5
Talk Talk... Hatte nicht viel am Hut mit denen in den 80ern , aber das ist schon sehr ausgefuchst
Klingt schon ganz cool aber hat mich nicht gecatched
That album title doesn‘t fit the heat wave I‘m currently in. But it is as slow as I feel right now.
7/10 A band I've heard of but never listened to before. Generally speaking I enjoy the album - even though the singer uses that incredibly 80s-style of singing (sort of nasal, like he's singing at the back of his throat, yelling but not really...). The album has excellent peaks and valleys - every song sounds different but related, never feeling too repetitive or disparate. I do think every single song is a solid minute or two too long; it almost feels like each track reaches its climax and then just keeps going. Overall a successful, enjoyable album.
almost meh, but not quite
#979. The album as a whole isn't the most impressive, but there are a few good songs on there. 3/5: acceptable
This was sweet!! Very cool new wave that I enjoyed a lot!!
Some good songs on here. Nothing crazy in my opinion but I can definitely see how some people would enjoy this a lot.
I imagined very generic pop based on the cover art, but it's actually quite a pleasant album.
5/10
Masterpiece
The album is quite interesting, the melodies are complex the voice is nice and their style reminds me of progressive rock. It makes me want to know more about the band. 3,5/5.
Such a rewarding listen that really endures.
I really liked it
01) Happiness Is Easy - 8,0 02) I Don't Believe in You - 8,0 03) Life's What You Make It - 10,0 04) April 5th - 7,0 05) Living in Another World - 8,5 06) Give It Up - 7,5 07) Chameleon Day - 5,5 08) Time It's Time - 8,0 TOTAL: 7,81 (78/100) Current ranking: 308/941
This got to be pretty boring for me.
There were a couple of songs that weren’t bad but I didn’t really care for the vocal style here.
I just didn't connect one bit to this, didn't enjoy his vocals didn't like the what to me felt like a glacial flow. Though it was quite hypnotic by the end. And that's fine, quite clearly it's its own thing and not a bad record just something that I don't connect too, so I have heard now, Just not for me 2 Star
Probably the third best Talk Talk album, but it's a little more accessible than "Spirit of Eden" and "Laughing Stock" so I can see why they chose it over those records. Favorite track: I Don't Believe in You 3.5/5
This feels older than it is, very 70s vibes to me I like their addition of orchestral elements The first song was strong for me because it had unexpected elements. The rest of them started sounding really really similar.
I have not heard this before. I am certain I’ve heard a few songs from this album because 75% of pop songs on the radio at the time sounded like this. Drums are drenched in gated reverb, bass is lifeless, guitar and keyboard are bland, and vocals are throaty and strained, although lazier and more mumbley than contemporaries. The only thing missing is a synth using lots of fake horns and orchestra stabs. Apparently they avoided synths on this album and had Steve Winwood play organ in a few songs, so maybe he provided vocal coaching. The period from 1986 to 1989 has my least favorite pop music sound and this album nails it to the T.
Awesome! Such a mood!!
My immediate thought upon seeing the album cover is that the colours are very autumnal, but we'll let that pass. The music is the important thing here. So, I know the big hits and never felt the need to switch channels when they came on the radio, but didn't like them enough to rush out and buy the long-player. I was right not to do so as there's nothing else here that engages me. It's fine, but I'll never listen to it again. Honestly, I could just copy/paste that last sentence on to so many reviews on here...
3.
Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 4/5
amazing, psychedelic, hypnotising, pure class and joy. will re-listen for sure
I actually really enjoyed this- found myself rocking out. The singers voice took some getting used to, but the instrumentation was nice and I liked the use of synth. Overall- good album. 3.5/5
I do have something of a soft spot for new wave, I heard a lot of 80s synth pop on the radio growing up. That being said, this is really nothing special. When it's doing a synth pop type thing it's a lot of fun, but it has a couple tracks that really slow the momentum of the album. And a lot of the fun tracks kind of overstay their welcome, there's really no need for any song from the 80s to be 8 minutes long (except for Money for Nothing). It was still a good time, it just drags on a little. Favorites: I Don't Believe In You, Living In Another World, Time It's Time
Talk Talk are quite an interesting band, just how they made commercial synth-pop music to - over a course of a couple albums - a ambient-focused direction and becoming pioneers of post-rock. This is probably the bridge album of Talk Talk's discography there's the two synth-pop albums that came before and the two post-rock that would come afterwards. This album is so peaceful and absolutely heavenly, all worries seemed to depart as I was listening to this album (and when I was listening to Spirit of Eden outside of the generator.) The vocals are top-notch. I definitely need to check out Laughing Stock now, I need to see where Talk Talk ends their story. I am in need of more albums that fill the listener with tranquillity. Highlight Song/s: "Happiness Is Easy"
Singing wasn't always quite my cup of tea, but I otherwise really enjoyed this. Bumping it up to a 4 based on the musicianship alone. Highlight: 'Living in Another World'.
One of my favorite albums of the 80s. In fact, this is one of the albums that opened my mind to 80s pop in general, a genre I’d maligned most of my life. The Colour of Spring showed me that all that overproduction could be worth it if the songs were good and in service of something greater. Of course Talk Talk went on to dive much deeper in the creative pool and make two more masterpieces as they abandoned pop…but this one is the in between, that signals where they’d want to go next but keeps a foot in the pop song structures. It’s so good. Every song is wondrous, interesting, catchy and emotional. Must-listen #ooo (out of order)
Life's what you make it is an achingly beautiful song, as is It's My Life on another album. The rest of the album, I find a little aimless. Mark Hollis passed too soon, and his plaintiff voice was unique, but sometimes he delved too far into the feeling and forgot the song.
meh
Meh
1st track is smooth new wave with some world music influence. It's nice but I could use a hook or a groove. Something approaching this at the end of the last track, but otherwise it's quite inaccessible. Best track - Happiness is Easy 3 stars - it's fine but it feels self-indulgent. It doesn't give much easily
# Talk Talk - *The Colour of Spring* (1986): A Retrospective Review Released in February 1986, *The Colour of Spring* stands as a pivotal moment in Talk Talk's evolution and, in retrospect, a landmark in 1980s art pop . Moving decisively away from the synth-pop of their first two albums, Mark Hollis and producer Tim Friese-Greene created a record that is both lush and introspective, serving as a perfect bridge between their commercial past and the groundbreaking post-rock experimentalism of their final two albums . It remains the band's greatest commercial success, reaching the UK Top 10 and topping the charts in the Netherlands . Here is an in-depth look at its lyrics, music, production, themes, and legacy. --- ### 1. Music & Production: A Shift Toward the Organic The most immediate difference on *The Colour of Spring* is its sonic palette. Where previous records relied heavily on synthesizers, this album **replaces them with organic instrumentation**: grand pianos, Hammond organs, Mellotrons, acoustic basses, and a wide array of percussion . The production, helmed by Friese-Greene, is warm and textured, utilizing the studio as an instrument to create space and atmosphere. - **The Rhythms:** Unlike the rigid drum machines of the era, the drums (played by Lee Harris) are live and fluid, often intertwined with congas and shakers, giving the album a subtle, world-music influenced groove. - **The Arrangements:** The album is famous for its dynamic range. Tracks like "Living in Another World" build from a tense verse into a euphoric, almost chaotic chorus featuring organs, harmonicas, and saxophones . Conversely, "Chameleon Day" strips everything back to just voice, sparse piano, and the eerie wail of a Variophon (an electronic wind instrument), pre-dating the silence-and-space aesthetic of *Spirit of Eden* . - **Guest Musicians:** The album features an impressive roster of session players, including Steve Winwood (organ), Danny Thompson (acoustic bass), and Robbie McIntosh (guitar) . This infusion of jazz and folk talent elevates the "pop" framework into something deeply sophisticated. ### 2. Lyrics & Themes: Life, Death, and Existentialism While the music is often bright and warm, the lyrical content is surprisingly heavy. Mark Hollis shifted from love songs to philosophical meditations on mortality, faith, and the human condition. - **Spirituality vs. Religion:** The opening track, "Happiness Is Easy," sets the tone. Driven by a gentle piano line and a children's choir, the lyrics critique organized religion ("I know a man that's fooled / He thinks he's saved") while simultaneously searching for transcendental bliss . - **Perseverance:** The hit single "Life's What You Make It" is a mantra of resilience. The lyric "Baby, life's what you make it / Can't escape it / Yesterday's gone" is a call to accept the past and move forward without regret . - **Disconnection:** "Living in Another World" captures the agony of a fractured relationship where two people exist in separate realities. The desperate delivery of the chorus, backed by rising instrumentation, conveys a sense of drowning in isolation . - **Time & Finality:** The epic closer, "Time It's Time," explicitly deals with the end of life. The choir returns, singing of "sweet salvation," but the mood is not purely religious—it is a stoic acceptance of death as a natural part of the "spring" cycle . ### 3. Influence: The Gateway to Post-Rock *The Colour of Spring* is often viewed historically as the precursor to 1988's *Spirit of Eden*, but its influence is distinct. While *Spirit of Eden* invented the slow, ambient template for post-rock (later adopted by bands like Sigur Rós), *The Colour of Spring* proved that **experimental production values and complex arrangements could co-exist with catchy, three-to-four-minute pop songs** . It paved the way for bands like Radiohead (*OK Computer* specifically shares its blend of dread and beauty) and Elbow. The record demonstrated that "progressive" music didn't need to sound like 1970s prog-rock; it could be atmospheric, jazzy, and concise. --- ### 4. Pros & Cons To present a balanced view, here are the strengths and minor weaknesses of the album based on critical consensus. | **Pros (The Strengths)** | **Cons (The Weaknesses)** | | :--- | :--- | | **Pristine Production:** The warmth of the acoustic instruments and the spatial dynamics are stunning, even by modern standards . | **Pacing Issues:** The mid-album track *April 5th* is a beautiful but meandering instrumental that some critics feel halts the momentum built by the first three songs . | | **Emotional Depth:** Hollis's vocal delivery is raw and vulnerable, moving past typical 80s reverb-drenched affectation into something deeply personal . | **The "Transition" Tag:** Sometimes viewed *only* as the warm-up for *Spirit of Eden*. If you prefer the ambient, formless nature of that album, this one might sound too "conventional" or radio-friendly in comparison . | | **Timelessness:** Aside from a few specific snare sounds, the album has aged remarkably well because it relies on live performance rather than dated synth patches . | **The Hit Singles:** *Life's What You Make It* and *Living in Another World* are brilliant, but they are so immediately catchy that the deeper, darker album tracks sometimes get overshadowed on first listen . | | **Highlights:** *Time It's Time* is an 8-minute masterpiece that perfectly encapsulates the album's themes of life, death, and renewal . | **Lyrical Obscurity:** While poetic, some lyrics (particularly on *Living in Another World*) are buried in the mix or are abstract to the point of losing narrative coherence . | ### 5. Verdict **Is *The Colour of Spring* essential listening?** Yes. It is the rare album that satisfies on multiple levels. For the casual listener, it offers "Life's What You Make It" and "Living in Another World"—two of the most sophisticated pop singles of the 1980s . For the audiophile, the production is a masterclass in texture and restraint . For the student of music history, it captures the exact moment a commercial band decided to risk everything for artistic integrity, setting the stage for the masterpieces to come . If you only know Talk Talk for the synth-pop of "It's My Life," *The Colour of Spring* is the beautiful, disorienting moment the flowers began to grow through the concrete. It is an album that earns its name: it sounds exactly like the color green looks.
actually a few nice songs
Great vibe, moody and atmospheric, a pearl amongst all the dodgy stuff, this must be why I am still here 🙂
Definitely good. However I listened twice all the way through and I can't recall it at all. Then I looked it up and listened again to everyone's favourite and most lauded tracks again. And I didn't didn't QUITE get the hype.
favs: life's what you make it, give it up
280526 10:37 4.5
Number: 146 Date: 05/26/2026 Artist: Talk Talk Album: The Colour Of Spring Year: 1986 Style: New Wave Pop Familiarity: Familiar (3) Rating: 3 Before: ======= I have one song by them on my favorites by years lists but it's not from this album. I'm sure I've at least skimmed this album before but apparently didn't find anything I really liked. During: ======= I rated all songs a 3 except for one 2. After : ======= Seems like it's technically good but overall pretty lame, imo. It would be OK as background music. I'm not sure it deserves a place on this list but 1000 albums is a lot of albums so maybe one could make a case for squeezing it in somewhere near the bottom. 3 my personal rating 4 suitability for this list 1 impact ----------------------------------------------- 2.7 composite rating
Going to give this one a three but I almost tapped out much earlier. I found the sound annoying and then I came back to it a day later and I kinda get the appeal now. It’s so aggressively 80s.
I thought I would hate it, turns out it's not too bad
It's not for me, musically, but just reading how passionate some of the reviewers are about this album's greatness, makes me wonder if maybe I'm just not ready for it. It wasn't bad and I enjoyed a few songs.
OK. There is definitely a case for including this one. It is a very good album. It was their biggest seller. And if you wanted to list one album to illustrate the whole course of Talk Talk's career then this would have to be the one. It is the midpoint where they were still pop but moving towards the pioneering 'post-rock' of the last two albums. But I don't think the two halves of Talk Talk's career need to be given equal weight. If we only have one of their albums on the list, surely it should be Spirit of Eden? Even people who prefer Laughing Stock are likely to agree that Spirit of Eden is historically their most important album because that was the game changer, both for Talk Talk themselves and for every artist they have influenced. Anyway, let's stick with The Colour of Spring and enjoy it on its own merits. Even when Talk Talk were a synthpop band they had a slightly different sound palette to the rest of their contemporaries. Their fondness for animal noises always hinted at Mark Hollis's longing for something more organic, and on this album they shift towards that with more physical instruments. Harris and Webb proved to be a much more versatile rhythm section then a synthpop band had any right to possess, and I have always loved the emotional pull of Hollis's tremulous voice, even if the lyrics don't always warrant the amount of feeling he invested them with. Compositionally (I think that was starting to be the right word) they were newly inspired by Coltrane, Satie and Bartok's string quartets ie. they were getting more ambitious/pretentious (delete according to taste). Yet Hollis could form these arty elements into an absolute banger like 'Life's What You Make It' and he was still writing big choruses for some of the songs. What starts to emerge on this album, though, is the increasingly confident use of the spaces within songs. That stands out on the less structured tracks like 'Chameleon Day' and 'April 5th' (his wife's birthday) which are the clearest pointers towards what happened next. Please listen to what happened next
Really good but not my thing
The Colour of Spring ist das dritte Studioalbum der englischen Band Talk Talk, aufgenommen 1985 in den Battery Studios und Videosonics Studios in London und im Februar 1986 über EMI veröffentlicht. Das Album markiert eine entscheidende Zäsur in der Bandgeschichte: Weg vom synthetischen Glanz der frühen New-Wave-Jahre, hin zu einem organischeren, von Improvisation und Raumatmosphäre geprägten Klangbild. Produzent Tim Friese-Greene und Sänger Mark Hollis schufen gemeinsam etwas, das sich dem Zeitgeist der Mid-Eighties entzog, ohne ihn zu verleugnen. Die Singles „Life's What You Make It" und „Living in Another World" brachten der Band ihren bis dahin größten kommerziellen Erfolg – das Album erreichte Platz 8 der britischen Charts. Doch jenseits der zugänglicheren Stücke öffnet sich eine dunklere, unbehaglich schöne Welt: „Chameleon Day" und das abschließende „Time It's Time" lassen ahnen, wohin die Reise führen wird. Hollis' Stimme bewegt sich zwischen Flüstern und Drängen, während die Arrangements einen Raum schaffen, der sich nie ganz füllen lässt. Rückblickend ist The Colour of Spring das Album, das zwei Welten trägt: es befriedigt das Ohr des Popfans und verunsichert ihn zugleich. Wer hier genau hinhört, versteht, dass Talk Talk kein Ziel ansteuerten, sondern einen Zustand suchten. Ein Album, das sich weigert, bloß zu klingen wie seine Zeit – und genau deshalb keine Zeit kennt.
I’m pretty sure I was suckered into taking a liking to these guys when I first heard them. Suckered may not be the correct word. More like fooled. I found a choice cut out of this almost complete mess so positives can be had. It’s barely a mid album but I will say, the first song really knocks a brother down . Stay strong my friends Choice cut: I Don’t Believe You
Solid album. It’s My Life was the only true exposure I’ve had so to hear a synth less album was pretty cool.
This album is one of the masterpieces from this band and the mind of Mark Hollis. From the opening track, you know that your soul is going to take you on a journey. I was playing this for a friend who never heard this record out in a public establishment. Some young kids came in and knew the record. I was very surprised and they said it was one of their favorite records of all time. This was coming from individuals that listed to this record 30 years plus after it's release. It just goes to show how great of a record this is.
I don’t know this band except for the name. I like this opening groove. I really liked track 4
It felt like watching paint dry. I guess it's a good way to cure insomnia. "Such a shame" is probably the only Talk Talk song I find palatable, I used to love it when it was playing everywhere in the 80s, but it's not even on this album. All I found here were interminable dull songs with no hooks and barely any rythm. I didn't completely hate it - I'll admit I enjoyed a few elements here and there, like the warm jazzy sax, some of the keyboard lines, or the chorus in Time It's Time. The singer also has a peculiar moody voice that makes the record slightly more interesting than the average 80s nonsense. But apart from that, it bored me so much I had to split it into parts to finish it. There's no way I'll ever listen to this again. 3/10
Just out of pure nostalgia. For some reason that was one of my first tape in my walkman as a 14 yrs old in 86. Still love it.
From what I’ve read, this was supposed to be a switch toward a more organic sound. Still, it remains very 80s to me, with that cold drum sound and those very era-specific guitars. The two hits I know from the band aren’t here, and the album feels long and pretty monotonous, though not uninteresting. That period produced far worse records. One listen will be enough for me, though.
Never heard of this band or album before and I have absolutely no idea of what to expect from the cover. It doesn't look like a synthpop, a punk or a sophisti-pop album and the 1986 release date seems a little late for new wave, so I'm just about out of choices. Fuck it, I'm hedging my bets on a new wave album. Here goooooes. I am a fucking genieyoos. My prediction was correct once again. Anyways, this was pretty alright. I enjoyed the snappy percussion, warm synths and mild bass guitars which comprise a majority of this album's sound. I also enjoyed some of the more unorthodox instruments, notably the flutes, harmonica, organs, harp and choral backing vocals. The minimal, hushed sound of this album is quite neat as well, though I'd be lying if I said it didn't undercut my enjoyment just a little. While the diverse sounds are blended together well thanks to how mild the performances of this album are, there are more than a few moments where I thought there was too little going on, either due to the instruments not intermingling with one another or the music just sounding empty. I'm also split down the middle on the vocals. They can be a bit much at points, though they generally get the job done and suit this style of music well. Overall, this was a respectable listen. I appreciated having something relaxed to listen to, though it's a gamble as to if I'll ever return to this. No way - I've heard "Life's What You Make It" through the Weezer cover from the deluxe version of the Red Album. Very strange song for them to cover. Anyways, this song is quite interesting as a new wave offering. Certainly a more pensive sound than what I traditionally associate with the genre. It works, fortunately. The piano chords guiding the lead melody are gratifying in how steady and grounded they are, and the backing effects are quite interesting. The rough, gritty electric guitar is also a welcome addition, further adding to the heavy atmosphere of the music. The lyrics and songwriting are a little eyebrow-raising, though their strangeness meshes with the established feel and is pleasing enough. Overall, a solid tune. Book time. Talk Talk led the charge for synth-based 80s rock and were among the first to dismantle it. The band lost their keyboardist, hired an experimental producer and brought in a few musicians to collaborate on the album. That's about it, however. Wikipedia says this album was their most successful release, having lingered on the UK charts for half a year. The album garnered a respectable reaction from critics and usually peaked at No. 10 - 20 in the handful of Western and European countries where it charted. It notably topped the Netherlands charts, was the 79th best-selling album of the year in the UK and was also the 22nd best-selling album of the year in all of Europe. Not as much fanfare behind this album as I was expecting, but commendable enough. I cosign this inclusion.
I instantly said "wrong album by Talk Talk, if you're only including one" as it misses both their biggest hit and the invention of post-rock - however I could see an argument based on my enjoyment of this. I do think Laughing Stock or Colour of Spring are more worthy, and would've had a higher rating from me
Truely no hate but I’m just not THAT interested I’m sorry Talk Talk and I didn’t save any songs rip
🎧This is pretty good and not the kind of sound I expected from Talk Talk. Best track: Give It Up. Worst track: Happiness Is Easy
This just wasn’t very exciting. It all sort of blended together and sounded the same. I think Talk Talk has better works that could have made the list. 2.5
Found this to be pretty decent. I misread 1986 as 1996 and was very confused for a bit why the production sounded so out of date for the time. Once that cleared up, this is a great mid 80s offering.
Not for me.
This record is amazing, everything you want from the combination between pop and it's opposite. I love their two next post rock albums, and Mark Hollis' solo album is a big favorite of mine. But this one has the magic of beginning the trend. I won't go further and just say I love this record for years, it's a really special. (Extra points for having both perfect first and last tracks.) A 5 today.
starts off with heavy drum machine and synth ends with a cacophony of real instruments. A true transition piece for the band that moves into a world of better music (I assume). Very interested in hearing more from them in the future.
I thought it was okay
Fine background music
I actually liked this more than expected, several songs were very groovy, the album goes fast :)
this genre of music do not meet my taste.
I bet this hit differently in the 80s. Mind blowing perhaps.
Genial. Uno de esos discos ochenteros que en cuanto se escucha, es posible identificar lo tremendamente importantes que fueron para la década y sobre todo las influencias que tuvieron en música posterior. Mucho ritmo, muchísima onda, genial disco de los Talk Talk.
For a lot of bands, the best way to understand their discography is to start with their first album and listen through the rest chronologically. Talk Talk is the exact opposite. Their magnum opus is Laughing Stock, their final album (which should be on this list). It took them about 10 years to find a musical signature, which was the spacious, collage-like texture you start to hear hints of on The Colour of Spring. This album is a weird pick because it's the exact mid-point of their transformation from sophisto-synth pop to experimental proto-post rock. They only get better from here on out, but this is nonetheless an absolutely great listen.
What really works is the tension between clarity and mystery. The songs are still songs. They still have hooks, structure, motion. But they are no longer trying to win you over in the easy, shiny way. There is more space here, more air, more patience, more faith in atmosphere. Mark Hollis sounds less like a frontman chasing attention and more like someone quietly reshaping the emotional temperature of pop music.
Weird album
Sometimes I stop and think "why are you singing like that" but it passes. Really well put together, great songs, enjoyable album.
What? No thanks
Very moody, but definitely not whiny. The singer’s got a really cool voice! 3.5/5.
It's pretty good, but the next two Talk Talk albums are superior
Great vocals, big, expansive songs, and a wonderfully chunky organ sound
Meh
Despite the 80s textures, there’s a lot to like here. They seem to keep there songs low key while maintaining intrigue, always switching it up when you feel it’s needed. I like the clarinet or sax and harmonica.
2/5
I like this, and there's some solid songs on it, but I don't always love the timbre of Hollis' voice.
Meh, this is pretty boring music.
I own this one on vinyl . Bought it about 18 months ago as a bit of risk , not knowing to much about Talk Talk other than they are highly regarded. It’s an absolutely superb album from beginning to end . No bad songs . It’s a real overall feel of an album
This was a slow burn for me. Had to listen to it a few times which I just happened to have the time and patience for lol
Kind of interesting. This would be more my wife's thing.
Tough listen. Bunch of noise
I had to bail on this one, it was just nails on the chalkboard
Completely fine, didn’t really think it was anything special.
Cool! all new for me!
Finally an album from a band I'd heard of, but never got into. To me they were poppy/synthy typical 80s music band. But this - this is different. It was music to get lost in, I wanted more! This is what I was hoping for when I started going through this list. Not the over abundance of garbage we've been told we HAVE to listen to. This one is going on my list!
Nice find. Never listened to any of their stuff until now. Talented musicians using many influences to develop an organically beautiful musical landscape.
Amazing album
I like his voice and I some of the tunes are ok. Not my cup of tea. Not terrible though
I'd never even heard of Talk Talk until 2026 and suddenly they're everywhere. There's a local brewery that has a beer named after them. Where have they been the last 40 years? The guitar solo in I Don't Believe in You has so much promise but is a touch disappointing. I saw someone say that this has so much British new wave. And I agree with that sentiment. But of all of them, this is one that should be discussed before final cutting decisions are made.
Trailing puffs of light mixing colours and seasons call for renewal
A very precise record, beautifully crafted and beautifully recorded - a deep, resonant album
Ok. I painted along to this one and thought I enjoyed the listen I don't know that I'd seek this out again
Yawn
this feels like something I'd like but I just find it dry and drowsy
Aina tykänny Talk Talkin soudeista ja onhan tää ikoninen kasaribändi ja levy. Tähän tulee palattua aina sillon tällön muutenkin
Posilla kasarimeininki. Pari hyvää biisiä, pari paskaa
Pari ihan kivaa biisiä, mutta muuten jää köyhäksi.
Tää pändi on varmaan nykynuorisolle (meille) tutuin siitä kun No Doubti teki its mai laiffista koverin (jota ei tältä rieskalta kyl löydy). Mutta täytyy sitä arvostaa, että tän tyylisellä erikoistavaralla pysty joskus kasarilla myymään kultaa briteissä. Avant-garde ja taide haisee helvetin pitkälle. Kuitenkin omalla tyylillään vinoutuneesti ihan kovaa hittiä saaneet leivottua. Kivan omalaatunen tyyli ja hauskan minimalistisesti saavaat äänikuvan kuitenkin täydeks. En ihmettele, jos on perus suoran rokin jermulle liikaa, mut kyl omaan korvaan ja päähän tää luo semmosen täysin uniikin (räppärin) fiilingin ja vision, että melkein täydet, mut ei ihan kehtaa, joten nelskari.
On taas kyllä ihan niin kasaria kun vaan voi kasari olla. En kyllä ihan varauksetta innostunut tästä, vaikka yksittäisiä ihan ok-veisuja tuolta tulikin läpi.
Nostalgic album for me.
Jesus, wish he wouldn’t sing sing
Pretty boring. Not much to say about this one. 80s pop is very hit or miss Highlights: Happiness is Easy
3.5 I liked this, despite the repetition and soft vocals. The clean production was reminiscent of The War On Drugs and some of My Morning Jacket in the vocal stylings.
3.75 I liked the 80s feel and style!
Kind of bad British indie.. like its fine, but its also not.. its like George Michael, but then not George Michael. IDK, this list is obsessed with these kind of bands.
Quite nice but not really my cup of tea.
Trevligt men inget som stod ut nåt värst
Inte särskilt spännande lyssning.
Hade inte koll på detta band, men "Life's What You Make It" är ju en klassik banger (de har tydligen också gjort originalet till No Doubts "It's My Life" som jag inte visste var en cover, men det är inte på denna skiva)! Trevligt album annars också.
mmmmmmn medio dudoso un par de temas me gustaron y los demas me resultaron aburridos, tampoco tan mal pero ueno un solido 3
Hate this shit. Dreamy moody drivel! Music that annoys.
Overall: 8/10 This is a very beautiful album. The songs had a very caing affect on me and I was entranced by the vocals. Fav Song: Give It Up
Notables - Life's What You Make It
Really enjoy their next 2 albums, this one is a bit odd. It has a similar vibe as those, but seems colder, less engaging. 3.5 rounded up Heard before? Some Owned: No 66/268 (24%) Will I get: No
I don't really know what I listened to. It felt strange and interesting all the way through.
This feels like an album (as opposed to a collection of songs). Enjoyable 80s indie
A special album.
In 1986 another new romantic synthpop record from Talk Talk would have been gratefully received by fans. Examples of genre shifts this extreme are rare, and were even rarer at this point in time. Pleasingly on this occasion it was not just unexpected but gave the band a newfound purpose and a life outside of a sphere that nowadays gets other bands branded (perhaps unfairly) as nostalgia acts. Its My Life might be their big hit, but this is where Mark Hollis’ most significant cultural impact begins, kicking off a series of records with phenomenal texture and depth; patience and reward. Each record after this betters the last. Even now, when a rock or pop group is particularly progressive or leans into chamber instrumentation, I can usually hear the influence of Talk Talk.
And Colour of Spring is a low to solid 5, what Talk Talk do here is largely unique to both their catalogue, era, and possibly music more broadly. It contains hints at what’s to come (my favourite Hollis projects are the two Talk Talk records which follow this, along with his later solo record) and also shows some of their earlier ear for a hook in a new more acoustically substantial environment I’ll listen to this band and this album forever
not like other albums so far (complimentary). But it's a little slow and melancholy for repeat listening for me.
Yet more mediocre new wave music. I don't think every band who made a new wave album needs to be on this list but someone definitely did not agree. I was born in the 80s. Maybe you had to be a teen or young adult when this was new to really appreciate it?
It had its moments but nothing that makes me want to return to it occurred, Giving it a 3 for effort,
Really enjoyed - almost like a delightful mix of Kate Bush and Genesis. Extremely powerful and present bass playing, much of it fretless. Never heard of Talk Talk before but will definitely be checking out some of their other albums.
I don't even know what I like about it. Was just pleasant
Reminiscent of Tears for Fears I liked it
This is just some classic 80's synth-pop. It is nothing special to me and overall it is a bit muddy and simplistic to me. I think it comes down more to my preferred style of music than this just being a bad album. I can see how some people would like it. It's boring to me, but not bad so I think I'll give it a 3.
3.3
Pretty good
It was fine I guess.
Happiness Is Easy - 4/5 I Don't Believe in You - 4/5 Life's What You Make It - 4.5/5 April 5th - 3/5 Living in Another World - 5/5 Give It Up - 4/5 Chameleon Day - 3/5 Time It's Time - 4/5 What many people say is a transitional period between the synthpop and post-rock eras, this is an exceptionally produced album, ditching the synths for the pit but still having some synthpop sensibilities. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Life's What You Make It, Living in Another World
Another album I’ve not heard for some time. Although I still like it I’m not as enamoured of it as I once was. Still great atmospheric music though
There are parts of this album that really shine, particularly those crescendos of layered instrumentation over Mark Hollis's ethereal vocals. His voice lends an almost gospel-like quality these tracks and it's just incredible to listen to. However, that's the most I can say I like it about it: "parts". Most of the songs overstay their welcome for me by a full minute or two. I don't think I could return to it in full, but I'd be interested to check out more of Talk Talk.
Yaaawwwnnn
Kind of mid
I'm not sure if I really liked this or not. I think the first song was fantastic; interesting layers, great chord progression, instrument stabs, it was great listening. After that it sort of fell off a cliff and I wondered if it actually would have been better if they had used synths in the production. I get the desire to not use them at all but I think they lost some of their really signature sound without them. The songwriting unfortunately doesn't really make up for it. It was fine to listen to and I didn't want to turn it off at any point but it got stale after that first track.
Great album! :-)
I can’t tell why anyone would make this album. It’s not very ambitious. This is a 2 for me.
I love 80’s jams but this one is dull. Even the upbeat songs have a melancholy vibe.
Not my bag, couldn’t stand to listen to!
what can you say ..what an amazing voice ..nice mix of tunes.. . R.I.P. Mark
There's a few tracks that stand out and have some oomph to them, with some good instrumentation. But my god, some tracks are so fucking boring. I genuinely nearly nodded off during 'April 5th'. Lots of this is so slow and nondescript, and it genuinely feels like something is a bit off with it.
Being honest with myself, even good New Wave music won't get any higher than a 3 from me.
Makes me feel cool and complicated but also chill.
Talk Talk got weirder with each record, but even with this mid-career effort their painterly, layered direction is clear, dreamlike in how a double-bass might materialise for a couple of daubs, Fender Rhodes shimmering in to replace it. Most of the melodies infuse into rather than hook the listener, and it takes a while for the structure to cohere in mind, but the payoff is worth it. They’re an epiphanic band; I started backwards with “Laughing Stock” after being told it was a post-rock landmark, spent a couple of years confused it didn’t sound like “Spiderland”, and then the excruciatingly gorgeous noise solo of “After the Flood” suddenly swivelled the record into focus. The moodiness of “April 5th” did something similar to me here. I identify two absolute pop bangers in their discography: “Life’s What You Make Of It”, on here, and the earlier, thematically similar “It’s My Life”. I feel like Hollis threw these out as a sop to the industry, afterthoughts for cash. Their strand of epic, soaring, stoic anthem is something I’d love more of, but I’m happy they exist, and the main body of their work is something you can swim in.
Try as I might, I just can't get excited by Talk Talk. The music is very pretty and accomplished, and I remember the singles on here fondly, but they don't really grip me even after a weekend's worth of exposure (serendipitously including Apr 5th) Rounded up a bit as I was substantially more engaged on my last listen, on headphones after a large glass of wine; perhaps a "grower".
Not their best work.
I love the heavy, dark tone of this album. I also appreciate that the music doesn't have too much of an 80s sound, despite releasing in that decade (perhaps it's the emphasis of real instruments over synthesizers). The songs have an atmospheric and moody feel. It was an immersive experience.
I really love Talk Talk, but this is absolutely the wrong album to have in the 1001 collection. Spirit of Eden is the right answer. Glad to see it has been submitted by a user for the other list.
6/10
Groupe connu par quelques tubes que j'ai apprécié à l'époque ('Such a Shame' en particulier). C'est donc la première fois que j'écoute un album entier. Les morceaux sont plus travaillés que la plupart des morceaux pop/rock standards : ils prennent leur temps pour se développer, et ils sont parfois agrémentés de chorus intéressants. J'apprécie aussi l'ambiance et le chant. Par contre il manque un peu de dynamisme, certains morceaux sont un peu trop lents et deviennent un peu ennuyeux. Je l'écouterais donc de nouveau, mais il ne rejoindra pas ma collection. =>3/5
What a fantastic album to listen to on 5th April! You've got the Talk Talk classics of Life's What You Make It and Living In Another World, the understated anger of I Don't Believe In You (Are you paying attention Donald? No? I thought not.) and the Omen-esque herald of Time It's Time to cover just half of this wonderful, complex album. The only song I remained unsure about was the coincidental April 5th, and today, April 5th 2026, a beautiful Spring day after Storm Dave, I evoked my inner hippy and finally got it! I love the colour of Spring, and I love The Colour Of Spring. 5 stars for my favourite Talk Talk album.
This seemed like they really wanted to sound like Tears for Fears
I liked it a lot :]
Spring is a short season in Arizona; as I listen to this album, the Yellow Palo Verdes have already lost most of their blooms, but last night's rain has cooled the temperature down closer to the warmth of spring rather than the heat of summer. It feels fitting to be hearing this album so early into Spring, as it gives off a very bright and energetic vibe which matches the season (with some slow and somber exceptions). There is an off-kilter sense of momentum throughout The Colour of Spring which sends the album careening into new melodies and structures, and I mean this as a compliment. It is always satisfying to hear a couple seemingly disparate elements get introduced early on, only for them to be suddenly united with the introduction of one more instrument, like the final piece being slotted into a jigsaw puzzle. I also enjoy the balance of vocals from Talk Talk, managing to being a lot of power while maintaining a very wispy and dream-like delivery. Even if this album doesn't keep me coming back, it is still a beautiful piece of music which feels very fitting of the season. Highlights: Happiness Is Easy, I Don't Believe in You, Chameleon Day
Gets better as it goes. Some real good stuff at the end. 3.5/5
I only really know Talk Talk from "Its my life" which I really like - although it is not on this album - however nearly every song on this album sounds very similar (although not quite as good). Initially dismissed on my first listen - but by 3rd listen was rather enjoying it. Its very 80's and very superficial and I am not sure I would ever put it on at a party (or actually when I would ever actually put it on). Good clean fun.
The Colour of Spring Although I would likely gravitate more towards the fantastic Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock, this is still an excellent album and an interesting meeting point between their synthpop origins and the strange, austere magic of those next two albums. There’s a bit of jazz, a bit of psychedelia, a bit of Eno-ness in places and a kind of icy dreaminess to it, almost like being held at arms length. Despite the warmth of the bass (both electric and stand up) and the organ, it feels like the drums and piano have an algid quality to them. You can almost hear moments, eg on Life is What You Make It or Time It’s Time, where it feels like It’s My Life is going to break out, and Living in Another World has some of the poppy exuberance of their first couple of albums, but around those moments it’s full of considered, meticulous layers of instrumentation, with songs slowly unfolding themselves, especially on repeat listens - although Happiness is Easy is pretty catchy, it is brilliantly arranged, languidly building piece by piece. I Don’t Believe You is a grower too, I love the George Martin-esque horns over the last half. April 5th, a song surely about the last day of the tax year, has some of that iciness and distance to it, a superb downcast song that never quite resolves, with a little touch of Astral Weeks. Give It Up has a great soulful swirl to it, I think the first song where you get close to the emotions of the narrator, before the maudlin, solemnity of the superb Chameleon. It’s a superb album in its own right, but also as the sole Talk Talk album on the list its easily a 5. 🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 Playlist submission: Give It Up
It took me a while to warm to this. At first it seemed like MoR lounge rock with some jazz chords and ambient touches - a safer Blue Nile. But I warmed to it alright. I warmed to the boil. It never goes fully for the pop jugular. The album balances accessible 80s pop with jazz-influenced ambience. Synths are kept to a minimum in favour of piano. There are still 80s touches, but it does not feel dated. Overall, a completely captivating album full of atmosphere, just enough melody, and all with a dark undercurrent.
The Colour of Spring has a clear 80s atmosphere and a polished sound, but it didn’t really connect with me. I could appreciate it, but it mostly passed by without leaving a strong impression.
This album is… boring. It’s not offensive, it’s not awful, it’s just boring. It seems very repetitive, and the songs all sound the same to me.
My favorite Talk Talk album that isn’t Spirit of Eden
3 stars
The issue with using phrases like 'most commercially successful album' about efforts from the pre-streaming era is you have no real idea if the success is based on the albums quality itself or momentum from earlier efforts. I preferred Talk Talk's earlier synth-led work.
A decent art rock album with a very lush and calming sound that comes as a result of the clear influence in the sophisti-pop. What primarily makes this album so artsy is how ambitious the instrumentation and clear the production are. They use a a great range of instruments to add a lot of texture to the sound, showing that a lot of hard work was behind the creation of this project, which is something to admire. However, I think the main burden of this album is that it can be too steady and slow. What I mean by steady is that I feel the songs main focus is to create a specific mood and work around it, with little to no changes in the structures. This type of composition is not bad at all, and it works very well in genres such as ambient, but because I find it hard to really resonate with the material in here, being so static is more of an disadvantage. To try to make myself clear, I'm giving two examples of songs that I feel don't do anything interesting: "April 5th" and "Chameleon Day". The other songs I found more interesting and appealing, with my favourite being "Living In Another World", which is very catchy and full of life tune thanks to the grandiose choruses. In the end, I think it is a good experience, but not something I'm crazy about.
Really enjoyed this more than I expected. Truly had never heard of this band and loved 90% of this record
3,7/5
Okay but not memorable
This is one of those albums that I feel you need to spend some time with to enjoy. As it is, I thought it was boring
Is this darkwave? It's very much hypnotic and dark pop music. It sounds like synthesizers even though it's not. It's very cool. I don't know how much I would listen to it again but I did enjoy it a lot.
This is fine. I don’t have any strong feelings, good or bad, about it, and no personal history or connection. Glad to give it a spin.
Not big on Talk Talk. There are a few tracks I've enjoyed from this repertoire, maybe a couple from this album. Overall I found it a bit over produced, the sound was over complicated at points and generally a bit samey. Vocals a tad monotone in many cases.
Amazing album. Great atmosphere, composition, instrumentation, one of my all time favourite albums, Steve Winwood on organ and Robbie McIntosh on guitar!
Exceptional
This seems like something I should like more than I did today, and probably would enjoy more with a more attentive deeper listen. Was nice background music today so rating 3/5, I will be looking into their catalog more
Very interesting listen.
I like some good new wave music. Maybe it's a bit ridiculous with all of the synths. It can sound cringeworthily 80s, but I don't care. I'm a sucker for it. But it feels weird to than take the synths out of it... Somehow it just doesn't work as well. It's like seeing a rainbow in black and white. You can see clearly see what it is, but it doesn't quite feel complete, does it? I have a strong feeling that this album appeals most to people who were already fans of Talk Talk, but that it doesn't work as well as an introduction to the band. I didn't hate it and it could possibly grow on me, but first impressions were a bit bland.
This was a genuine surprise. I hadn’t heard of this band before, and I really enjoyed the album from start to finish. The vocals are very ’80s, but the music around them feels much more timeless. I don’t think there’s a bad track on here.